At sunset on June 4th, 2440, the Freehold hosted media, family, and V’ren guests for an evening of wine, jazz, and unexpected honesty. From exotic wildlife to teenage gossip, the night proved Missouri could do diplomacy—with style.
As a public thank-you for his tireless work, Matt gifts K’rem a fully customized truck—complete with V’ren-language interface and all the horsepower one needs to feel truly at home in Missouri.
Kevin’s nerves nearly get the best of him as he asks Mall to the fair, but her answer—and the way she reaches for his hand—changes everything.
Matt and L’tani return from their whirlwind lake escape to find work underway and emotions running deeper than expected. A glimpse into desire, restraint, and rediscovering human connection on a warm Missouri afternoon.
On the night of June 3, 2440, Matt opens up to Angelina in a rare moment of vulnerability. Over deviled eggs and cold Dr Pepper, they share a quiet porch conversation about grief, legacy, lost love, and the fear of starting over—revealing the emotional truth behind Matt’s stoic leadership and lonely strength.
Late on June 3, 2440, in the quiet of the Marmaduke farmhouse, Angelina and Lola Rhea confront long-buried truths about Matt, grief, and unspoken love. Over cold coffee and fading memories, they name the wounds no one else will—and the silent ache Matt still carries beneath his public strength.
Julia welcomes her former sorority sisters to the Marmaduke Freehold—and immediately regrets it. As influencer energy collides with post-collapse pragmatism, Angelina lays down the law, Priya quietly observes, and the house begins testing everyone. Some came to study a culture. They didn’t realize they were stepping into one.
Leonard Wood enters Matt’s world with caution, obligation—and a buried need. What begins as a personal plea turns into something more enduring: a command forged not by force, but by trust. With one quiet exchange, the future of Earth’s defense shifts from corporate indifference to something far more human.
Corporate leaders reel in the aftermath of Matt Marmaduke’s unexpected rise as High Lord of the V’ren. Amid blame, paranoia, and the realization that they’ve been outmaneuvered, one truth becomes clear—he didn’t take power, they gave it away. And now, the Midwest isn’t theirs to reclaim.
At dawn, seven V’ren shuttles descend onto Missouri soil, and a coronation takes shape beneath rising sunlight. Matt Marmaduke receives the trust, blades, and oaths of alien captains—declared High Lord of the V’ren by rite of weapon, witness, and will.
Matt and L’tani’s high-speed road trip to the lake turns from reckless fun into a heartfelt mission of healing as they meet with Matt’s cousin and her blind daughter. Amid teasing, threats, and tenderness, a bond forms—and the possibility of restoring sight brings new hope.
A hungover Matt stumbles into the kitchen only to find the people he loves already ahead of him. Over coffee, bacon, and ballads, something long-dormant stirs back to life—connection, rhythm, and the sense that maybe he’s not so tired of being lonely after all.